PRACTICE OF APPLICATION CLAY GEOSYNTHETIC SCREENS IN THE SITES OF HEAP LEACHING IN PERU

Abstract

Heap leaching is the cheapest of the alternative methods in processing of gold and other metals. Heap leaching operations face with serious up-to-date environmental problems in the developed and developing countries around the world, the best solution of which is still in the process of development works.One of the preferred methods to solve these environmental problems is the use of various types of coatings in order to prevent the penetration of technological solutions in the ground water, managing water flows during the rainy season, as well as to reduce their evaporation into the environment. Currently, many
efforts are being made to improve construction, quality and efficiency of heap leaching projects. The possibilites
to reduce activities of earthworks, which consume up to 70 % of the capital costs of such projects are considered.
The important factor for heap leaching projects is to ensure the contact of the soil low-permeability with a geomembrane. In world practice it is established that when the slope is more than 63,4º the use of low-permeability soil is complicated and unsuitable. Instead low-permeability soil it is proposed to use membranes, the so-called geosynthetic clay coatings.. This article
discusses not only the advantages and disadvantages, but also the economic component of of such membranes
application in the sites of copper heap leaching in Peru and other countries.